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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (Expert Forum)
Indistinct relapses
Answered by
Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD - Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Migraine (Headache), Transitional (Teen) Neurology
Neurologique
Ponte Vedra Beach - FL
Welcome to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) forum.
Indistinct relapses
by shoshin, Dec 24, 2008 01:10PM
A lot of us on the MS forum seem to struggle with the concept of relapses and remissions. We've had a lot of discussions about this, but it can still be difficult to grasp.
I was wondering if you wouldn't mind saying something about Ess' question on the thread on "Slow or 'looking back' relapses" at http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/716631. She asked if "various symptoms that develop over time, or take a long time to be characterized, constitute a relapse?"
Is it possible to have a relapse or remission and not know it?
Can a relapse come on slowly or does it come on with a clearly identifiable beginning?
Can remissions come on more slowly?
Can things keep slowly getting worse for a while (months) or is that not a relapse anymore?
Is there some rule of thumb for distinguishing "subtle" relapses from progression or do they just blend into each other?
I guess that's more than one question, but if you could just say something in general about this, I think your perspective would be helpful to me and some others.
Thank you.
sho
I was wondering if you wouldn't mind saying something about Ess' question on the thread on "Slow or 'looking back' relapses" at http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/716631. She asked if "various symptoms that develop over time, or take a long time to be characterized, constitute a relapse?"
Is it possible to have a relapse or remission and not know it?
Can a relapse come on slowly or does it come on with a clearly identifiable beginning?
Can remissions come on more slowly?
Can things keep slowly getting worse for a while (months) or is that not a relapse anymore?
Is there some rule of thumb for distinguishing "subtle" relapses from progression or do they just blend into each other?
I guess that's more than one question, but if you could just say something in general about this, I think your perspective would be helpful to me and some others.
Thank you.
sho
Doctor's Answer
by Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD, Dec 24, 2008 01:27PM
, Dec 24, 2008 01:27PM
Great questions.
Please refer to:
http://www.*************.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/18973/relapse
Basically a relapse is a neurological symptom that last for weeks to months (although it is defined as greater than 24 hours, it is almost never that short) and then improves (not necessarily back to baseline).
Progression is when even in between relapses there is a slow decline.
Please refer to:
http://www.*************.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/428/18973/relapse
Basically a relapse is a neurological symptom that last for weeks to months (although it is defined as greater than 24 hours, it is almost never that short) and then improves (not necessarily back to baseline).
Progression is when even in between relapses there is a slow decline.
Thank you.
~Sunnytoday~